The airport smelled. Recycled air. Pari had stopped noticing it.
The uniforms were different today. Same gray, different logo on the shoulder. Some clean-lined geometric shape. Abstract.
The woman had the same bored neutrality. She scanned Pari’s transit card, held her identification a beat longer than usual, and glanced at a screen Pari couldn’t see.
“Destination?”
“Chicago.”
“Moral Health Plan provider?”
“Sorry?”
“Continuity verification. Standard under the interim transit framework.” The woman’s tone was a helpful recording.
The Gulf Coast Transit Authority had failed its funding review. A systemic compliance shortfall. The airport had been operating under an interim contract since Tuesday.
Pari gave the name of her provider. An independent. Not one of the DivinityOS licensees.
The woman typed.
The security arch beeped green.
She got through.
A story from the Static Drift universe.
Article photo by Matthew Cooksey on Unsplash.